Support to WMRT in 2007 for the Future

From Ronnie Ritson's Family and Friends

Ronnie Ritson, a well known and loved local family man, tragically died following a walking accident on Kirk Fell, 26th December 2006.  He was rescued by the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team with support from the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team and a Sea King Helicopter from Royal Navy Gannet.  Following the accident the family decided to show their appreciation by raising money for both the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team and also to the Cockermouth Team.  Over the past twelve months the family and friends have raised nearly £5,000 for the Wasdale team with events such as a school non uniform day, a bag packing day in Cleator Moor, a toy sales day, a donation from the Sellafield Site contractors safety performance fund and more recently, a sponsored road run at Carlisle.  

This is a tremendous donation to the team and it is being put to very good use purchasing improved communication equipment.  The equipment includes GPS microphones for the radios (Global Positioning System) which allows the control room to track and monitor the location of team members on a computer screen as they move across the mountains.  In addition there will be sufficient funds to invest in a radio repeater system which will be installed at the head of the Eskdale Valley to allow the rescue base to speak to team members on the hill when working in the far reaches of upper Eskdale, notoriously difficult to get radio communications to from Gosforth.  This enhanced, high tech system will provide greater safety for team members and a better rescue capability for the team to locate injured or missing persons.  The team would like to take this opportunity to thank all those family and friends of Ronnie Ritson who have made this possible.

Ronnie Ritson's family and friends who helped raise the money for the team.  Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, can be seen in the background.

Some of the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team who were involved in the rescue that day

page created 16/12/07